PFBA in Woodbury wells

Updated: February 28, 2008

Department of Health releases new health limit for PFBA

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today announced that it has established a new Health Based Value (HBV) of 7 parts per billion for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), a chemical detected in Woodbury's water in 2007. The number is higher than the drinking water guideline of 1 part per billion used previously. That guideline was based on limited health information about PFBA and how it might compare with other perfluorochemicals (PFCs).

An HBV is the calculated concentration of a groundwater contaminant, or a mixture of contaminants, that poses little or no risk to health, even if consumed daily over an individual's lifetime. The Department of Health said the new HBV reflects a clearer understanding of PFBA's potential for health impacts during fetal and other developmental stages and how long the chemical remains in the human body.

Woodbury's levels of PFBA are well below the new guideline. Municipal wells were sampled on a monthly basis during 2007. The amount of PFBA detected in all wells ranged from .07 to .55 parts per billion (ppb). The average amount was .25 ppb.

The MDH held a series of public meetings to update residents regarding what has been learned in the past year about PFCs in groundwater and to discuss public health concerns. The meeting in Woodbury took place on March 10, 2008, at Woodbury Lutheran Church.

Visit the MDH Web site for more information about PFCs in groundwater.

Read the full MDH press release.

In January 2007, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that low levels of the chemical perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) had been detected in municipal wells in Woodbury. The chemical at these low levels does not pose an immediate health risk to Woodbury residents and businesses.

The city hosted a public informational meeting and open house on Feb. 13, 2007, to provide an opportunity for citizens to obtain more information about PFBA and bring their specific questions to public health and pollution control experts from the Department of Health, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment, and the city.

Below are the materials that were distributed at the Feb. 13, 2007, public information meeting and additional information related to PFBA. As more information about PFBA becomes available, updates will be provided on this page.

• Feb. 13, 2007, public information meeting agenda

Feb. 13, 2007, public meeting handouts:

• PFBA in southeast metro (PDF)
• Monitoring and testing drinking water (PDF)
• Water treatment for PFBA (PDF)
• Water treatment using carbon filters (PDF)
• Bottled water questions and answers (PDF)
• MDH PowerPoint presentation - PFCs (PDF)
• MDH PowerPoint presentation - Geology, groundwater and sampling (PDF)
• MPCA PowerPoint presentation (PDF)
• MPCA fact sheet: PFCs - past, present and future actions (PDF)

More PFBA information:

• Washington County partners with state to offer well tests (Posted: May 21, 2007)
• Letter to MPCA Citizens' Board from Mayors of Woodbury and Cottage Grove (PDF - Posted: May 24, 2007)
• Woodbury City Council resolution (PDF - Posted: April 19, 2007)
• Letter to the city from 3M regarding PFBA in Woodbury groundwater (PDF)
• Department of Health finds low levels of PFBA in Woodbury wells
• PFC Plumes in South Washington County - Map (PDF)

Minnesota Department of Health links:

• Perfluorochemicals and Water Analysis and Treatment (Posted: Aug. 26, 2008)
• Report to the Minnesota Legislature on perfluorochemicals (Posted: Jan. 16, 2008)
• Interim report on the MDH evaluation of point-of-use water treatment devices (January 2008)
• Perfluorochemicals and health
• PFBA in the groundwater of the southeast metro area
• Low levels of PFBA found in six cities’ wells in southeast metropolitan area
• Point-of-use water treatment for PFBA (Updated: January 2008)
• Water treatment using carbon filters: GAC filter information (Posted: March 20, 2007)
• New data, analysis prompt fish consumption advice for Mississippi River, Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis (Posted: April 16, 2007)

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency link:

• Proposed cleanup of 3M Woodbury disposal site (Posted: July 25, 2008)
• Approved Settlement Agreement and Consent Order between 3M and the MPCA (Updated: May 22, 2007)
• Consent Order Summary and Fact Sheet (PDF - Posted: May 22, 2007)